Happily Ever After.....Maybe

Chapter Seven

Curious I looked at Hayden's father closer. They had the same jaw and dark brown eyes, maybe once they even had the same color hair. Now Hayden's father's was gray with age and he had a peppered gray bearded and many scares on his face. I could see where Hayden got his height from. Hayden's father had a blue glow around him like all the other dead souls in the Enchanted Forest of Death had. He stepped closer to us, "The name's Alaric, and who might this beautiful girl be?"
"Don't touch her." Hayden snapped glaring at his father his mouth in a firm line.
Alaric spread his arm out harmlessly, "Come on, son. You've been here long enough to know that the dead can't touch the living."
"Hayden." I whispered never before have I seen Hayden so tense.
Hayden ignored me holding his head up high he stared at his dad long and hard, "So someone finally did you in? I should thank them."
Ouch Hayden knew how to spit fire at someone I thought as I looked to his father for his reaction. Alaric didn't seem fazed by Hayden's heated remark, "No I um.... The drinking ended my life. I was coming home from the Tavern more wasted than I should have been and I crashed the wagon into a tree." He paused then added, "I fell out and died instantly."
"Pity I would have preferred someone to stab you over and over letting you die a painful death."
This time Alaric grimaced at Hayden's words and looked down at his worn out boots.
I felt sorry for Alaric he didn't deserve the anger Hayden was displaying, I gently laid my hand on Hayden's shoulder only for it to pass right through. For a moment I had forgotten he was dead and that I couldn't touch him. "Hayden please....." My tone gentle and my eyes pleading with Hayden.
His father shook his head, "No, he has right to be mad, it's not his fault Henry died."
Hayden and I both stared at him our eyes questioning him.
Alaric was quite with his deep voice a near whisper he said, "It's not his fault because....... He... He didn't kill Henry."
Hayden looked at me then back at his father confused, "You mean I didn't mean to kill him, it was the rum. I was drunk when I came home that night, I.... I couldn't remember a thing."
"No..... I mean you didn't stab Henry with that knife, you weren't the one who ended his life."
"That's impossible! I woke up and was holding the bloody knife! I saw his blood everywhere and Henry..... He was dead." Tears brimmed Hayden's eyes as the pain of the memories that forever haunted him came to his mind.
"Whatever you think happened didn't son. I've been keeping the truth from you for a long time, but Henry's been gone four years now and you should know the truth that way we can both move on to a better place."
"And what truth should I know?" Hayden asked cautiously.
I held my breath anticipating what his father would say.
A nervous quietness settled over the three of us in the a Enchanted Forest of Death as Hayden and I waited for his father to speak.
Alaric took a shaky breath, "You didn't kill him, because I did. I killed Henry."
"You did what?!" Hayden choked.
"I was drunk, I didn't know..." But Hayden didn't let him finish.
With no warning he charged towards his father knocking him to the ground. Death couldn't touch the living, but that didn't mean they couldn't touch the other dead. Sitting on top of his father Hayden threw a punch at his father. "You killed him! How could you! You monster, he was my little brother!" Hayden continue hitting his father.
"Hayden! Hayden stop!" I screamed I ran over and tried to pull him off his father but since the living couldn't touch the death my hands pass right through him. I was useless, all I could do was try to talk him out of it. "Hayden let him explain!" But he ignored me and continued throwing punches at him.
Between hits Alaric spoke, "I didn't know what I had done" *hit* "till it was too late." *hit*
Tears streamed down my face like a river as I stood there not being able to stop Hayden. You couldn't kill a guy that was already dead could you?
Alaric continue, "When I found out what I done to Henry I panicked. I'm sorry."
"Sorry's not good enough!" Hayden went for another punch but this time Alaric doged his fist catching Hayden by surprise. Then with a strength I didn't know he had he flipped Hayden off of him and placed his hands around Hayden's neck. Hayden drew a sharp breath as his father tightened his hands around his neck, "You're going to kill me like you did Henry."
Alaric fell back releasing his grip, he rubbed his brow tiredly, "No, I won't do that to you, despite what you might think of your old man I love you Hayden. Besides we're dead and you can't kill a guy that's already dead."
Hayden leaned his arms on his knees, "What about the blood on my clothes and the bloody knife in my hand when I woke up? And you.... You yelled at me that I killed my brother I know that for sure."
"When I came to and saw Henry dead on the floor and my hands and shirt were bloody I panicked, I hadn't remembered stabbing him, but I must have. Then I saw you past out by the kitchen table. I knew by the smell of your clothes you had been drinking too. I cleaned up my clothes and I rubbed blood on your shirt and placed the knife in your hand." Alaric said regret in his voice.
He stared at his father with disgust as I knelt down on the ground beside him, "So you planted the blood and convinced me that I did it? Did you have any idea what that did to me? From that day on I had to live with the thought that I was a monster, that I killed my younger brother when all along it was you!"
Alaric lowered his head shamefully, "I'm so sorry son, I was scared that if you knew the truth that I would lose you too, and I couldn't live with myself if I lost both my boys."
Hayden stared at him in disbelief, "But you could live with yourself by making me into a murderer! I can't believe I called you my father." He spat.
"I know this is hard for you, and that you may never forgive me. But I had to tell you the truth."
"Because this is your unfinished business isn't it?" I whispered softly.
Alaric gave me a small smile and pointed to Hayden, "You keep her around you hear? She's a smart one." He stood up placing a hand on Hayden's shoulder he gave him a final pat. "Goodbye, my son." He stepped back looking up to the sky he waited. Strangely his blue glow didn't glow yellow and get brighter like my mother's did. He looked at us with a puzzled look on his face then suddenly a sharp red glow that seemed to come from the ground snatched Alaric's ankle causing him to scream in pain. His cries got louder as the red glow snaked up his body overtaking the blue glow.
I covered my ears with my hands as his earsplitting scream became too much for me to bare.
The red glow grew darker and darker till it was a blood red and Alaric was screaming with terror. Then just as quick as it happened the red glow vanished along with Hayden's father.
Jumping to my feet I twirled around searching for any sign of him, but Alaric was gone. I stepped back a sob catching in my throat, "He.... He's...."
"Exactly where he deserves to be. I hope he rots in hell."
I turned to look Hayden in the eyes I couldn't believe he just said that, "How can you say that! He is your father!" tears fell down my face.
"He killed my brother, as far as I'm concerned he isn't my father!" Hayden stood up from the ground.
"He made a mistake Hayden, he didn't know what he was doing. And he apologized for it now."
Hayden threw his arms up in the air frustrated, "I can't believe you're taking his side! You of all people should know what a crappy parent looks like when you see one."
His words hit my heart like sharp daggers piercing my skin, my eyes glistened with tears, "You can't take this and turn it around to compare it to my life."
He stared at me not saying a word.
A hot awkward silence hung between us. I choked in a deep breath, wiping tears from my eyes I looked into the eyes of the man I thought I loved but now wasn't so sure.... Dying had changed him. It made him so angry and say words that I knew the old Hayden didn't mean. What happened to the man I loved? Who loved me? Deep down I knew he was still there, but his painful words were still fresh in my mind. "I...." I cleared my throat, "I think I should go." Without another word I turned and walked away from Hayden. I didn't look back, I held my hand over my mouth to soften the sobs that threaten to burst and I hurried down the path the way I came. I refused to let him see how much he hurt me and I didn't stop till I had exited the Enchanted Forest of Death.
Sunlight blared down on me and I shielded my eyes, I had forgotten that the real world was so bright and sunny with beautiful blue skies. For a moment I felt sorry for the souls trapped in the Enchanted Forest of Death. They couldn't see or enjoy beauty like this. I froze in my tracks. Something wasn't right. Where was Tobias? I had tied Tallulah's horse to this dead tree I was sure of it, now the tree was empty and Tobias was nowhere to be seen. "Great now I'm going to have to walk all the way back to the tavern." I muttered.
From a distance a horse neighed, his sweet neighs sounded like music to my ears. I sighed with relief I wouldn't have to walk home after all. Home, it felt good to call a place home. Who knew I would ever consider a tavern home! I followed the soft neighs going off the beaten down dirt path I circled the edge of the forest till I came to a meadow. There Tobias stood grazing his lead dangling on the ground. I marched towards him, "How did you get loose you crazy horse." As I bent to grab his lead something spooked him causing him to gallop away from me. "No! Tobias! I didn't mean it! You're not crazy!" I groaned and trudged after him now I was the crazy one; talking to a horse!
"Yah, come on boy!" A deep male's voice said.
Turning my head I saw a man on a beautiful black stallion whiz by me at such speed. He was an expert at riding and as his horse galloped up beside Tobias the man leaned to the side and smoothly grabbed Tobias's lead. With a click of his tongue and a deep "Woah...." He brought his horse and Tobias to a slow trot and he circled back around and came riding up to me a big friendly grin on his face. As he approached I could see that he was young not much older than me with short blond hair and a clean shaven face. He wore black leather pants and boots with a red cotton shirt. His blue eyes held a look of amusement, "Were my ears mistaken or were you talking to your horse as he ran away?"
Heat flooded my face, "Yes, well Tobias understand English really well." I wanted to drop dead right there that was an idiot thing to say! Of course the horse couldn't understand!
The charming man leaned down in his leather saddle resting his arms on the horn. "Really? I have never heard that before, but then again I am not from around here. Glad I was in the area, we sure don't have beautiful damsels in distress like you." He gave me a wink and a handsome grin.
I snatched Tobias' reins from his hands, "I'm not a damsel in distress! I had everything under control." I huffed swinging my leg over and pulling myself up on Tobias.
"I could clearly see that as you stood yelling after him." He chuckled.
"I was just..." My eyes caught in a white handkerchief that was sticking out of the pocket on his pants. The handkerchief had a golden thread crest of a royal kingdom sewn into it. "Your handkerchief."
"Uh?" He looked down at his pants and stuff the handkerchief into his pocket, "Oh that thing the cats out of the bag now ummm." He ran his hand through his hair.
"You're a knight?"
"Yes I am Sir Dylan knight of Kalopsia. I get to rescue pretty damsels like you for a living."
I rolled my eyes he sure was a flirt. "Like I told you I'm no damsel, more like a badass tavern waitress who's been through a whole lot worse things than you probably could imagine."
He laughed, "And what is your name?"
I paused thinking back to Hayden and all our moments together. My thoughts traveled to how Hayden was so mysterious about keeping his name to himself at first and I smiled looking at Sir Dylan I said, "Won't you like to know." With a sharp click of tongue I sent Tobias galloping away.
"Hey!" Dylan yelled digging his boots into his horse's side his horse ran to catch up to me, sidling along side me he brought his horse to a slow trot, "I would like to know, you are very mysterious, and I would like to get to know you. Starting with your name."
"Please.... I know you." I cast him a look, then kept my eyes on the path, "and like hundreds of knights like you. And you all want the same thing."
"But what if you're wrong? What if I'm different?" Dylan asked watching me carefully.
I sighed, "Listen, Sir Dylan...."
He smiled, "You can just call me Dylan."
"Fine, Dylan. Like I told you I've been through horrible things, things that I'm still trying to fix. I'm not....."
"You know what forget it, it was stupid." He looked away towards the mountains in the distance.
I opened my mouth to say something, but then decided it was probably best not to say anything at all. Instead I listened to the rhythm of the horses click clops on the dirt path.
Awhile later we came to a fork in the road. Not knowing what the other was thinking we both slowed our horses to a stop. Dylan leaned over from his saddle and patted my hand, "Well, beautiful damsel, I guess this is goodbye till we meet again."
       I didn't have the heart to tell him I doubt we would meet again, so I simply nodded. Dylan took my hand and gently brought my hand to his lips and gave me a soft kiss. Then he slowly trotted away on his black stallion. I watched him leave getting farther and farther. Something in my broken heart jumped with excitement like a darken room that suddenly was full of light from a flaming candle. Maybe I was a damsel in distress and maybe he was my knight who came to rescue me, but he came too late. For I was already rescued by my true love a mysterious lost man who gave his life to tell me he loved me, and deep down I still loved him. Hayden gave his life for me, now it was time for me to do something for him.